Sweat + Nonenal = ??? in Winter

Sweat and Nonenal, body odor associated with aging can create unpleasant smells that can be especially troublesome. As the temperature drops in the winter, it may seem like sweating should be less of an issue, but in reality, the odor of winter sweat can be even more pungent. 

"The amount of sweat is obviously lower in winter than in summer, but the quality of sweat is worse in winter than in summer."

According to Risa Kirimura, a physician specializing in body odor control at Tokyo University in Japan, the cause of cold winter sweat is that bacteria and fungi thrive in high temperatures and humidity, which can be suppressed in the cold and dry winter air.

The use of heat-retaining and heat-generating innerwear can still lead to stuffy, sweaty conditions. The smell of armpit sweat is often caused by secretions from the apocrine sweat glands, which are more prevalent in mature adults. 

As we age, and especially as we approach menopause, the levels of female hormones that act as antioxidants decrease, making it harder to minimize the substance called nonenal, body odor associated with aging. It is not just the smell of armpit sweat that is concerning, but also the so-called "complex odors" that can occur as a result of the combination of sweat and bacteria. Typical odorous components include acetic acid (vinegar smell), butyric acid (expired dairy food smell), and isovaleric acid (fermented bean smell). 

Here at Mirai Clinical, we offer deodorizing products with Japanese persimmon that eliminate all kinds of body odors including nonenal. Learn about our persimmon here.

In addition, it is important to keep a healthy lifestyle to keep the body odors down

1. Health food intake

The cause of nonenal production is the skin’s deteriorated antioxidants. So it does make senes to eat more antioxidant-rich foods, such as blueberries, spinach, or kale.

2. Improve the sweat quality by sweating more from working out
When the sweat is in good condition, it doesn’t smell. The best way to improve your sweat quality is to generate heat from inside your body. Check your sweat quality here.

3. Hydrate, hydrate & hyrdata

Dehydration is another cause of body odors. Drink before you feel thirsty. When you feel thirsty, it is in fact that your body is already dehydrated.

4. Quality Sleep

The key to good quality sleep starts with waking up early in the morning and getting exposed to the sun. Ideally, you want to receive sunlight to regulate your circadian rhythm and start moving your body, so your brain knows the day started. You will get great fatigue enough for you to fall sleep easily and keep sleeping all night long.

5. Stress Management

The ways to control stress depend on the person, but common tips are meditation, working out, talking with people, etc. Hormone imbalance can dramatically affect your mental status too. So try multiple ways to find out which one works for you.